Stalk-cutting attachment for plows.



G. A. BOARD.

' STALK CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR PLOWS.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY16, 1912. 1,059,822.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

'r srn STALK-CUTTING- ATTACHMENT FOR PLOWS.

osasaa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22,1913.

Application filed July 16, 1912. Serial No:'709,718.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BOARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plum Bayou, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutting Attachments for Plows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stalk cutting attachments for plows, and it has for its obect to produce a device of this class of simple and efficient construction which may be readily applied to and used in connection with an ordinary plow for the purpose of cutting stalks and they like simultaneously with the operation of the plow.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described wherein the stalk engaging cutting ,blade shall be deflected downwardly 'so as to engage stalks that are to be operated upon substantially at right angles.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described which, while of light and inexpensive construction, shall be strongly reinforced so as to be capable of doing effective work.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as'the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the improved device applied to a plow in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, showing the device detached. Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the device, detached. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the device, detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The blade 1 of the improved cutting device is mounted on front and rear supporting members A and B. The front supporting member consists of a strap 1 which is provided intermediate its upper and lower ends with a lateral oifset 2 at its lower extremity with a laterally extending bracket 3.

The rear supporting member I) may be described as consisting of an arch including a crown piece or bridge piece 4- and limbs or side members 5, 6, one of which, which may be regarded as the outer limb 6, is provided at its lower end with a laterally extending bracket 7. The plate 1 may be secured by suitable fastening members, such as bolts 8, on the brackets 3 and 7, as will be clearly seen in the drawing.

The supporting members A and B may be secured on the landside of a plow beam C by means of clamps 9, one of which engages the portion of the strap 1 constituting the forward supporting member above the lateral oflset 2, while the-other clamp 9 engages the inner limb 5 of the arch which constitutes the rear supporting member. The said supporting members, while firmly clamped upon the plow beam, may be readily adjusted vertically, as will be readily understood, to the most advantageous position for successful operation, it being, however, understood that the blade 1 is to engage the stalks or other material that is to be cut in close proximity to the surface of the ground. It will be, moreover, noted that the supporting brackets 3 and 7 are slightly deflected downwardly, thereby supporting the blade 1 in a tilted or inclined position, the cutting edge of said blade being sup ported in a lower plane than the back of said cutting member.

When the improved device is attached to a plow in position for operation, the evener by means of which the draft is attached to the plow beam will engage the corn, cotton or other stalks that have been left standing, as well as the sprouts of weeds and the like, bending the same down toward the ground. The stalks will be engaged by the blade 1 of the cutting apparatus before they have time to regain an upright position, and it is to meet this contingency that the blade is mounted in an inclined or downwardly deflected position, causing the stalks to be squarely engaged substantially at right angles by the knife or blade, which latter will thus sever the stalks instead of merely slicing them Or sliding clear of them, as it would be apt to do if supported in a true horizontal position.

The improved cutting apparatus, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is

extremely simple in construction and is capable of being very easily and quickly at tached to an ordinary plow. It will also be readily understood that the blade may be conveniently detached from the supporting members for sharpening or other purposes and that when thus detached, the entire device may be packed for transportation or storage in small compass.

The important feature of the invention is that the operator need lo'se no time in cutting stalks and the like previous to plowing. By the improved device a path is clear in advance of the plow continuously andautomatically, thereby enabling the operator to cover up all stalks and trash at the next round of plowing thus effecting a great saving of labor.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new, is

1. In a stalk cutting attachment for plows, a front supporting member consisting of a strap having a lateral ofiset intermediate its ends and-a lateral bracket at its lower end, a rear supporting member consisting of an arch including a crown piece and inner and outer limbs, the outer limb having a lateral bracket at its lower end, and a cutting blade secured detachably on the lateral brackets of the front and rear supporting members, and clamps for securing said supporting members adjustably on a plow beam.

2. The combination with a plow having a beam, of a stalk cutting device including a front supporting member consisting of a strap having an offset intermediate its ends and a lateral bracket at its lower end, a rear supporting member consisting of an arch including a crown piece and inner and outer limbs, the outer limb having a lateral bracket at its lower end, clamps mounted on the plow beam and engaging, respectively,

. the upper end of the front supporting member and the inner limb of the rear supporting member, and a blade mounted detachably on the lateral brackets of the front and rear supporting members.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. BOARD. WVitnesses W. L. GooDwIN, J. F. WVALKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

